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Saturday, November 3, 2012

The MC attack

Shane McColgan (Saskatoon Blades)

Friday night hockey was in full swing on Friday evening as 14 New York Ranger and New York Islander prospects saw action. A couple of surprises, a suspension and a game winner in overtime highlight the report.

First Star Shane McColgan Saskatoon

Shane McColgan (NYR 2011 5th) we can now say is on a roll as the native of Manhattan Beach Ca scored his 4th goal in his last 8 games but his second straight game winning goal helping his Saskatoon Blades earn a 3-2 overtime win over the Kootenay Ice.

McColgan's goal came at 3:06 of the overtime period when McColgan grabbed the puck skated to the front of the net and out waited Kootenay goalie Wyatt Hoflin before sliding the puck past him for the win. The Blades are starting to come out of their early season slump and McColgan has been a big reason why.

The Blades have been using McColgan as a center rather than wing and it is working quite well. McColgan (1-1-2) is centering Josh Nicholls (2-1-3) and Matej Stransky (0-1-1) and the trio are turning into Saskatoon's best line.

McColgan also added a secondary assist on Nicholls's 2nd goal to give a 4-7-11 in his last 8 games and a 4-11-15 for the season.

Anders Lee (New York Islanders)

Second Star Anders Lee Notre Dame

Anders Lee (NYI 2009 6th) and his 8th ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish were hosting 11th ranked Western Michigan and while Notre Dame came up short losing 3-2; Lee had a solid game. Lee in a losing effort was 1-1-2 on 8 shots and a +1.

With the Irish trailing 2-0 going into the 3rd period, it was Lee who tried to spark a 3rd period comeback with his 3rd goal of the season just 42 seconds into the period. Western added a goal thanks to a power play goal but Lee set up teammate Robbie Russo for a goal to pull Notre Dame to within 1 at 3-2.

Notre Dame would be unable to score the tying goal and suffered their 2nd home loss of the season. Lee leads the Notre Dame scoring with a 3-4-7 in 7 games.

Notre Dame will play Western Michigan on Saturday evening to conclude the weekend series.

Everytime Michael St. Croix (NYR 2011 4th) scores, he re-writes the Edmonton Oil King record book as the center for the Oil Kings recorded his 150th career assist but Edmonton lost to the Prince Albert Raiders 3-2.

The Oil Kings have only themselves to blame as they gave away a 2-0 lead to the Raiders. Griffin Reinhart (NYI 2012 1st) was scoreless as the Oil King dropped the first game of a 6 game road trip.

Getting back to St. Croix who is Edmonton's franchise leader in goals (101), assists (150) and of course points (251). Boy I for one can't wait to see St. Croix on the Ranger power play as St. Croix just attacks and attacks even more on the power play.

Brendan Kichton (NYI 2011 5th) knows a thing or two about setting records as the Spokane Chief's captain holds a couple of his own. They were not much help as Kichton scored his 6th goal of the season but the Red Deer Rebels handed Spokane their first home loss 3-1.

Kichton on the season is 6-12-18 (4th in the WHL for defensemen) and the Chiefs will look to start a new streak on Saturday against the Everett Silvertips.

Cristoval Nieves (NYR 2012 2nd) has a mixed game for his 7th ranked Michigan Wolverines as they tied Northern Michigan 4-4 (Michigan earned extra point in shootout 1-0) in overtime.

Nieves took a holding call in the 2nd period which led to a Northern Michigan power play goal. To be fair to Nieves, Michigan gave up 3 power play goals in the 2nd period as part of a 4 goal outburst.

Nieves helped get one back when he recorded his 4th assist of the season with a secondary assist on Michigan's 2nd goal as the Wolverines scored 3 goals to tie the game and force overtime. Nieves with the assist was also even on 3 shots and was 3-0 on face offs.

Pelech had a secondary assist on Erie's 2nd goal for his 12th assist of the season and 14th overall point. (Stick Tap to Victor Fernandes of Shootout for the info)

Peter Ceresnak (NYR 2011 6th) and his Peterborough Petes are tied with the Erie Otters for the worst record in the OHL after the Petes dropped a 4-1 decision to the Mississauga Steelheads. Ceresnak was scoreless on the evening and sorry but it is just a matter of time before the Petes raise the white flag and hold a fire sale.

Feel bad for Ceresnak as because of limits on how many import players a team can have it will be almost impossible to trade him. It is really hard to see the Rangers as signing Ceresnak to any contract since he can make more in Europe than playing in the AHL.

It won't be the Ranger's fault if they don't sign him as Ceresnak is not showing the forward progress that warrants a contract.

Ceresnak is also hurt by the play of Samuel Noreau (NYR 2011 5th) as Noreau is having himself a career season with his Baie-Comeau Drakkar as they whipped on Chicoutimi Saguenéens 7-1 as the Drakkar extended their unbeaten streak to 8 games (6-0-0-2).

The Drakkar played without their coach Eric Veilleux who missed the game due to the passing of his father. Our sympathies to the coach and his family as Veilleux is a class act and an excellent coach/teacher.

Noreau has blossomed under Veuilleux, a team leader, used on both special teams and Noreau is responding as he did with 2 primary assists for his 6th and 7th assists on the season (3-7-10 overall). Noreau is showing the kind of forward progress that is going to almost force the Rangers to sign him to at the worst a AHL deal.

Loic Leduc (NYI 2012 4th) is almost in the same kind of boat that Ceresnak is in; playing on a very bad Cape Breton Screaming Eagles team. The Screaming Eagles were spanked 6-2 by the Saint John Sea Dogs 6-2.

Leduc was a -2 with a minor for roughing and 1 hit as his Screaming Eagles dropped to 15th overall in the QMJHL.

Scott Mayfield (NYI 2011 2nd) and his 3rd ranked Denver Pioneers were handed their 1st loss of the season by St. Cloud State 3-0. Give St. Cloud the credit as they are off to a great start 5-2 after the win, leaders of the WCHA.

Mayfield had a quiet game with no shots or penalties.

Brady Skjei (NYR 2012 1st) returned to the 2nd ranked Minnesota Golden Gopher's lineup as expected after being given last weekend off by his coach Don Lucia to rest up. The Golden Gophers defeated Minnesota State 3-2.

Skjei was scoreless on 0 shots and a -1 while playing as the 3rd pair defenseman. Nothing to worry about Skjei is progressing just fine.

Finally the long arm of the OHL discipline folks came down on Andrey Pedan (NYI 2011 3rd) as he was suspended by the OHL for 4 games. Pedan should consider himself lucky that he only got 4 games but next time he will be gone for double digits.

Pedan was suspended for a kicking major that he picked up on October 28th. His timing was horrible as his Guelph Storm are going to play 4 top OHL teams while Pedan is sitting it out.

Pedan is a very talented prospect who is his own worst enemy as if he cleaned up his game then he would be a top 4 in the NHL for sure. Nothing is more frustrating than seeing a legit talent risk it by not thinking.